Electrical connecter



Patented Aug. 21, 1934 NITED STATES. PATENT 1;

Leo J. Werner, Arlington,

field Manufacturing N. J. c

N. J., assignor to Gar- Company, Wallington,

Application February 13, 1932, SerialNo. 592319 12 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in connections for electric circuit extensions or what is generally known as attachment plugs, and relates more particularly in the present embodiment of the invention to a heavy duty connecter designed for'use in making portable extensions of the higher voltage or powercircuits.

An object of theinvention is to provide a connecter of the character described by which, in

"N a particularly 'eflicient manner, the making of electrical contact may be effected not only with greater speed than the movement of pushing the connecter sections into operative position, but at a speed which is predetermined and not subjectto variations by the operator in effecting the connection of said sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'connecte'r of the character described in which the immediate making of the electrical connection and the quick movement of the contacts while spaced and in arcing distance of each other during the making and breaking operations are effected automatically and out of control of the operator.

: g A further object of the invention is to provide a connecter of the character wherein the aforesaid automatic movements of the contacts into and'out of engagement during the making and breaking of electrical connection constitute a complete cycle of operations which cannot be reversed by the operator, and inf'this way making it impossible for the latter to effect a reestablishment of the electrical contact once the same is broken .or to break the contact once it is made, without strictly following the operations of the cycle. l Another object of the invention is to provide a connecter in which the quickmake' aforesaid ing engaging surfaces of the contact elements andcomplete contactual engagement on the initial engagement of the elements.

: An additonal object of the invention is to pro- A still further object of the invention is to provide a connecter in which a contact means for makinga'nd maintaining an electrical connection before and after other electrical connections are made through the plug, will'in additon pro- 40 will be efiected with all portions of the cooperatsimultaneously brought into substantially full.

vide a guiding means'for insuring the engagement of the proper contacts.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a connecter wherein the. connection: and disconnection of the electric contact members may be efiected in 'a substantially gas proof receptacle and with portions of the electric circuit having a difference of potential substantially sealed from each other. i V

Yet another object of the invention is to pro- Vide a connecter with the aforementioned features, which is extremely compact and of simple design, is safe and positive in operation, and may be manufactured atlow cost.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage; some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forthin the following descrip-' tion of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations'in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted withinthe scope'of the invention as set forth in the claims. I

Referring to said drawing! Figure 1 is a" longitudinal sectional View of the connecter with the connecting members in de. tached relation;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connecter with the members positioned as in Fig- 8,5 ure 1, but taken in a plane at right angles.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the connecter members in operative relation.

Figure 4 is an end view ofthe socket member of the connecter, viewing the same from the receiving or. open end. i

Figure 5 is a perspective view of apart used on one of the members for'deflecting one of the con tacts of the other member. t

Asillustra'ted in the drawingtheconnecter of Q5 my invention comprises a plug member 2 and a socket member 3 which are. arranged forydetache able connection-for establishing electrical con-' tact betweensuitable conductors. Each of the members is formed of a body of insulating ma 10o terial, which in the instancelof memberB is en'- closed withina metal shell 4-. whereas in the case of member'2 is incasedin a shell 6 which as'here shown includes-sections 7 and 8, theformer of Which'is arranged to telescope with and fit within the shell-4 when thememb'ers are engaged; Preferably a portion 9 0]? the body of member 3 is spaced from the shell cs0 as to provide aperipheral chamber Iain-whichthe section 7 and a portion 13 of the body of member-21s arranged 1 1 gaging operation of 2, when the section '7 to slidably fit whereby an effective and practically air tight and gas proof connection between the members will be had while the members are moved into or out of engagement or disposed in operative position.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the connecter. is adapted for effecting a multi-wire electrical connection, and is therefore provided with a plurality of sets 14 of contact elements 16 and 17. The elements 17 are carried within recesses 5 provided by the member 3 and are preferably held in fixed position as by means of screws 18, while the elements 16 are mounted" within a recess 10 provided by the member 2 and mounted for movement relative thereto. 7 As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, each of the elements 16 is formed with an engaging head 19 and is pivoted or otherwise mounted for movement in the men'i ber whereby the head may be displaced transversely thereof. Substantial pivotal connection of the element 16 is here shown effected by positioning the same for free movement in a tapering .opening 20 of the body and retaining the element therein by engagement; thereof with a pin A spring 23 interposed between'an end wall 25 of the body and a stop 24 anchored to the ele ment, serves to hold the elementv steady. Connection between each contact 16 and its associ--. ated terminal post 15 provided in a suitable terminal recess "15' is through means of a flexible conductor 26. A sealing washer 21 preferably surrounds each element and is pressed into sealing engagement with the end wall 25 by the spring- 23 thereby preventing communication of the opening 20 with the terminal recess 15'. The element is also engaged by a spring 2'! which as here shown encircles the pin' 22'and serves to yieldingly retain the element in an inoperative normal position. 1

It will be understood that engagement of the cooperating elements is arranged to be. effected when the members are drawn together, and means is provided for causing the element 16 to be successively displacedand released during the enthe memberswhereby the head 19 when approaching'within arcing distance of element 1'? will be moved into contact with such element 1'7 not only at a much faster rate than and entirely independent of the rate of the movement of the members'together but in a manner entirely automatic and beyond the control of the operator. In the present embodiment of the invention said means is in the form of a deflecting plate 28 fixed to the member 3 in insulated relation to the contacts lfl'and the shell 4 and having a deflecting portion 29 which is positioned so as to lie in the path of head 19 when the member 2 is moved into operative engagement with member 3. As will be clear from Figure and portion 13 of member 2 are inserted into the chamber 12 of member 3,: the head 19 will about-the same time engage the near end 31 of the members are then moved together, thecelement 16 is'displaced transversely against the resistance of spring 27 until the section ."7 and'portion13 nearly reach the limit of their inward movement, atwhich time the head "19. reaches the far end 32 of the portion 29 whereby on the final closing movement of the members the head will undertheforce of spring 27 snap into full engagement with element 17, it being noted that the latter is sopositioned transversely of the members as to lie intermediate' the points assumed by the'head in the." most displaced positions. It

normal and in the .vex, and the coacting deflecting portion 29. Asthe contact 16 to traverse will thus be evident that when the head is moved past the deflector and into engagement with the contact 1'7, it will firmly and resiliently press against the contact and insure an efficient electrical connection. It will be noted that since contact between the elements is effected by moving the cooperating engaging surfaces of the elements together while such surfaces are in substantially direct opposed relation, a practically full contact over the entire inter-engaging area of the elements is obtained at the initial instant of contact. Preferably the side of the head 19 arranged to engage the contact 1'7 is formed conface of the latter is formed with a corresponding concavity 33 which provides a ready seat for the head when the contacts are in engagement. As will be clear from Figures 1 and 5, the head 19 is extended transversely and it is this extension thereof which engages the deflector 29 whereby the contiguous portion of the element 16 is free to move opposite the deflector when the head 19 passes to the rear of the latter. In the present embodiment the head is extended transversely on both sides thereof and each deflector plate is provided correspondingly with two of the deflector portions 29. It should now be clear that since the action of oontact16 is entirely automatic once it leaves the deflector for contact 17; the operator cannot retract contact 16 and thus endanger the parts while the contacts are within arcing distance. This feature forms an important part of my invention and adds much to the safety and efficiency of operation of the connecter.

Disconnection of the members is arranged to be effected in a manner insuring a quick break of the electrical connection and without the undesirable arcing. As before noted, the contact 1'7 is positioned to lie at a point between the limits of the transverse positioning 'of the head while in the member 3. In this manner while the ele ments are in contact, the elements 16 will under the urge ofspring 2'7, seek to assume its fully retracted or normal position. To this end, the body of the member 3 is cut away adjacent the forward extremity of contact 17 so that when the members are drawn apart, the head 19 will forcibly and abruptly leave contact 17 and thereby permit contact 16 to return to normal posi tion as soon-as engagement between the contacts is ended. To facilitate the quick separation of the contacts, the forward end of contact 1'1 is curved or otherwise sloped so that the pressure of the head thereagainst assists in forcing the members apart. After the contacts are thus separated and the'member 2 retracted, the head may readily ride over the rear side of the deflector and the complete detachment of the members effected. It is to be noted that since the making and breaking of the contact between elements 16 and 17 always takes place while the section '7 and body portion 13 are sealed in the chamber 12, any possible arcing produced during said action will be completely confined to the interior of the connecter. i

One of the main features of my invention is that reestablishment' of contact between the elements when once the contact is broken, cannot be accomplished until-substantially complete detachment of the members shall have been first effected .and the connecter sections thereafter again brought into full engagement to permit the nerbefore described. In other words once the the electrical connection is broken, reestablishthe deflector in the manment may be effected only after the full cycle of operations of disconnecting and reconnecting the sections is completed. In this manner, there is no possibility of arcing due to inching on the part of the operator-that is the act of breaking connection and then while the contacts arestill in arcing distance, making contact between the line and load sides. An important" part of my invention is the simple and eficient manner in which such feature is afforded. It will be seen, as aforesaid, that as soon the members are drawn apart sufficient to permit disengagement of the contacts, the contact 16 will immediately return to its normal inoperative position with the head 19 back of the deflector 29, and it will thus be evident that with the head 19 thus disposed, any attempt to move the member 2 inward to effect reengagement of the elements will merely result in bringing the head 19 against the solid wall 34 of the insulated body. Contact therefore, between the elements, can only be effected when the head 19 is first caused to ride over the forward face of the deflector as hereinbefore explained.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the connecter is adapted for electric circuits entailing a ground connection. Accordingly the members 2 and 3 are provided with coacting contact M I elements 36 and '37, the former of which is the form of a split pole whereas the latter comprises a socket member arranged for thereception of the pole. Preferably the socket member 37'is housed in a centrally disposed portion 35 ofthe member 3, while the pole 36 is extended centrally 35 from the member 2 and into the recess 10. With the contact elements 36 and 3'7 operatively engaged and with the members 2 and 3 pressed to a closed position, the end of the portion 35 engages the surface of themember 2 to effect a substantial separation of the recesses 5. With the members 2 and 3 operatively engaged it will thus be clear that the contacts 16 and 1'? which have impressed thereon a difference of potential will be substantially sealed from each other.

T Suitable grounding connection of the contacts 36 and 37 with the respective shells 4 and 6 is alforded through means of screws 38 and 39 which also serve to secure the shell portions to the insulated bodies of the members, whileconnection with ground line may be had at the terminals 41 and 42 of the contacts. The contact elements 36 and 3'7 are so positioned that operative engagement thereof will take place before corresponding engagement is had between the elements 16 and 1'7, and furthermore contact between elements 36 and 37 will be retained after engagement between elements 16 and 17 has ceased. In this manner, and since the pole is arranged to fit firmly in the socket member when engaged therein, the elements 35 and 37 will supplement the telescoping shell and body portions in guiding the members into and out of operative relation. Furthermore the elements 36 and 37 are positioned out of center of the members so that it will be impossible to place the members in engagement to bring in contact the un'associ ated pairs of the'contacts 16 and 1'7. 1

Preferably each set of contact elements 16 and 17 is reversely disposed in the members withrespect'lto the positioning of the other set of such elements. In this way the partsmay be more compactly arranged in the membersand the conneeter thereby reduced in size.

It will now be seen that the connecter hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in meatcompanying drawing, will provide for the advantages and objects 'hereinbefore noted in a particularly efiicacious manner.

. I claimzi 1. In an electrical connecter, separable connecter members movable into and out of engagement with each other, a contact element in one member, a contact element pivotally connected to the other member, a spring urging said second element to a normal position, an obliquely disposed deflector plate on said first element to engage and deflect the secondelement to a position transversely opposed to the first element when the members are moved into engagement, said plate being of 'a length as to disengage said second element upon substantially complete engagement of the members whereby said second elementunder the action of said spring may move into engagement with said first element.

2. In an electric connecter, a connecter memher having a recess opening to an end thereof, acontact element mounted in said recess, a second connecter memben'a second contact element resiliently mounted on said second member and movable into and out of said recess and engagement with said first element, a deflecting member in said recess and disposed to engage and deflect saidsecond element upon movement thereof into said recess, said deflecting member being of a formation as to position said second element upon movement thereof into said recess into laterally opposed relation to said first element and thereupon disengage said second element.

3. An electric connecter comprising a pair of releasably attached casings, one of said casings having a recess opening to an end thereof, a contact element mounted in said recess, said recess being formed with an offset portion adjacent said element and opening to said end, a contact element on the other of said casings and movable therewith into and from said recess for engagement with and disengagement from said first element, and means urging said second named cont-act element in the direction of said offset portion whereby on Withdrawal thereof from engagement with said first element said second element will be moved into said ofiset portion under the action of said means.

4. An electric'connecter comprising a pair of telescopically attached casings, one of said casings having a recess opening toan end thereof, a contact element mounted in said recess, said recess being formed with a substantially right angularly offset portion adjacent said element and opening to said end, a spring pressed contact element 'on the other of said casings and movable therewith; into said recess for engagement with said first element, and urged in the direction of said offsetportion whereby on withdrawal thereof from engagement with said first element the same will be moved into said offset portion under the action of said spring.

"5. An electric connectercomprisinga pair of connecter members, a contact element on one of said members, said last named member being provided with'alaterally offset portion adjacent endof said element, a second contact member mounted on theother member and movable therewith into; engagement with said first element, means urging'said last element in the direction of'said offset portion whereby upon Withdrawal thereof from engagement with said end of said first element the same will be moved into said offset'portion under the urge of said means.

6. An electric connecter comprising a pair of connecter members, a contact'element on one of said members, said last named. member being formed with a laterally offset portion adjacent said element, a second contact element mounted on the other member and movable therewith into engagement with said first element, means urging said last element in the direction of said ofis'et portion whereby, on withdrawal thereof from engagement with said first element the same will be moved into said ofisetportion under the urge of said means, a deflecting guide on said first member extending from within said ofiset portion into laterally opposed relation to said first element and arranged to engage and deflect said second element against the resistance of said means upon movement of the element thereover to engagement with said first element and arranged to disengage said second element upon movement thereof into said laterally opposed relation with said first element to thereby permit movement of said second element toiengage said first element under the urge of said means.

, '7. An electric connecter comprising a pair of attachable connecter members, one of said members having a pair of recesses opening to an end thereof and an end wall intermediate and surrounding said recesses, contact elements in said recesses, a pair of contact elements carried by ,I the otherv of said members and advanceable into said recesses for engagement with said first contact elements, and an end wall on said last named casing intermediate and surrounding said second named contact elements and disposed upon T movement of said members to attached position to engage said first named end wall and form therewith a seal between said recesses.

3. An electric connecter comprising a pair of telescopingly engaged casings movable from a detached to a closed-position with one casing within the other and formed to provide a substantially gas tight seal between said casings, one of said, casings having a pair of recesses opening to an end thereof and an end wall intermediate and separating said recesses, contact elements in said recesses, a pair of contact elements carried by the other of said, casings and advanceable into said recesses for engagement with said first contact elements, and an end wall n2 on said last named casing intermediate and separating said second named contact elements and disposed upon movement of said casings to closed position to engage said first named end wall and form therewith a seal between said recesses.

@ j 9. An electric connecter comprising a pair of connecter members, a contactelement on one of said members, the other member having an opening therethrough, a second contact element mounted in said opening and disposed for en- -;gagement with said first element, means for re.- taining. said second element against longitudi-- nal displacement in said opening and providing for transverse movement of said second element, said second element extending through said opening and from a wall of said last named memher, and means for pivotally mountingsaid second element comprising awasher surrounding said second element and abutting said wall, and a spring carried by said second element and urging said washer against said wall.

, 10. An electric connecter comprising a pair 01 telescopingly engaged casings -movable from a detached to a closed position with one casing disposed within the other, one of said casings having a pair of recesses opening to .an end thereof and an end wall intermediate and separating said recesses, contact members in said recesses, the other casinghaving a pair of tapered openings therethrough divergently opening to a forward wall thereof and convergently opening to a rear wall thereof and disposed with said casings in closed position to register with said recesses, said forward wall being disposed with said casings in closed position to engage said end wall and form therewith a seal between said recesses and openings, a pin transversely mounted within and across each opening, elongated contact members disposed through said openings and slidably mounted on said pins, hel ical springs surrounding said pins and engaging said contact members, a sealing ring on each of said last named contact members abutting said rear wall, and a spring carried by each of said last named contact members urging said ring into sealing engagement with said rear wall.

- 11. An electric connecter comprising, a pair of engageable body members slidably movable relative to each other from detached to fully attached position, a contact element on one of said members, a guide on said last named member and extending obliquely to the axis otmovement of said members with an end thereof disposedin spaced laterally opposed relation tosaid element, acontact element on the other body member, spring means urging said last named element to position engaging said guide and in the lateral direction of said first element on engage ment of said members whereby on movement ofsaid body members towards attached position said second element will be displaced laterally against the action of said means, said second element having a widened head portion, and said guide being arranged to engage exclusively the side edges of said head portion whereby on movement of said portion from said guide end on movement of said members to fully attached position said second element will be completely disengaged from said guide and free to move to engage said first element under the urge of said means.

12. An electrical connecter comprising a body member having a recess opening to an end thereof with a side of the recess provided with an offset portion extending to said end, a contact element positioned in said'recess inwardly of and with an end thereof substantially contiguous with the inner wall of said offset portion, a

guide member extending inwardly and obliquely through said recess from said offset portion and adjacent said body end into spaced laterally oping said last named element to position in the plane of said offset portion for engagement with;

said guide on engagement of said members and movable over said guide against the action of said means and into engagement with said first element on movement of said members to fully attached position, said second element being urged by said means from the end of said first element and into said offset portion on movement of said members from fully attached posi--.

tion and co-operating with said portion inner wall to prevent reengagement with said first element without first further detaching the mem bers and engaging said second element with said guide asaforesaid. LEO J. WERNER. 

